Wire-stretcher.



' PATENTED JUNE 4,-1'907.

R. B. HARTIN. WIRE STRETGHER.

APPLICATION FILED 00125, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED JUNE 4, 1907.

R. B. HARTIN. WIRE STRETGHER. APPLICATION FILED 001.25, 1906.

2 .iHEETS-SHEBT 2.

' stretcher embodying the invention.

RICHARD B. HARTIN, OF MCORORY, ARKANSAS.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1907.-

Application filed October 25, 1906. Serial No. 340,559.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD B. HARTIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mo- Crory, in the county of WVoodrufi and State of Arkansas,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Stretchers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to means for stretching wires or fabric inthe construction of wire fences, whether the same consist of singlestrands or runner wires, or of a fabric such as woven wire or cableshaving pickets attached there to.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means foreffecting the result, reference is to be had to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions bychanges in the structure and minor details without departing from thespirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment isshown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wire Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection thereof. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 0c-x of Fig.2, the post and operating lever being turned onequarter way around. Fig.4 is a detail perspective view of the inner end of the lever providedwith the two pawls. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the clamp for use inconnection with a wire fence comprising a series of strands.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The device comprises a guide frame and a rack frame, the latter beingmounted in the guide frame so as to be held thereto and directed in itsmovements thereby.

The guide frame comprises a base plate 1 having its longitudinal edgeportions bent to form retaining flanges 2. A loop 3 is provided at eachend of the base plate and extends over the rack frame to hold the sameupon the base plate. An edge portion of each loop is bent upwardly, asindicated at 4 to prevent the teeth of the rack frame engaging with theloops when returning the rack frame to normal position. A post 5 isfitted to the guide frame and its lower end is pointed so as to readilypenetrate the earth when driven therein to anchor the stretcherpreliminary to tightening the wire fence or other thing to be stretched.A plate 6 is let into a kerf provided in the lower pointed end of thepost 7 and is arranged at a right angle to the length of the stretcherso as to offer resistance to movement of the guide when the device is inoperation. An opening is formed in the base plate to receive the postand the same projects above and below the base plate and is strengthenedby braces 7 pendent from the base plate and either attached thereto orforming a part thereof. The braces 7 are secured in any manner to thepost so as to prevent displacement thereof. A cap plate 8 is arranged toextend over the rack frame and its edge portions are bent so as toembrace opposite edges of the rack frame. The cap plate is apertured toreceive the post.

The rack frame comprises com anion rack bars 9 spaced apart and arrangeparallel to each other and suitably connected by means of transverseties. A rod 10 connects corresponding ends of the rack bars and receivesa sleeve 11 placed between said rack bars to hold them properly spaced.A block 12 is laced between the opposite ends of the rac bars and isbolted or otherwise secured thereto and receives a clam for holding thewire or like runner or strand to be tightened. The clamps consist of abar 13 pivoted at 14 to the block 12 and adapted to turn in a planeapproximately parallel with the rack frame. The outer end of the clampbar or member 13 is formed with a lateral extension 15 adapted to engagethe wire or like part placed between the clamp member and the block 12to be gripped thereby. A threaded stud 16 is let into the'block l2 andis provided with a clamp nut 17 which is adapted to force the clampmember 13 toward the block 12 so as to grip the wire or like part to beheld during the stretching operation. The rack frame is placed upon thebase plate 1 and operates through the loops 3 and between the retainingflanges 2. A guide eye 18 is located at the outer end of the block 12for the fence wire or like strand to pass through, thereby preventinglateral displacement from the clamp.

The operating lever 19 has an opening near one end to receive the post 5upon which it oscillates, said lever resting upon the cap plate 8 andheld in place by means of a collar 20 secured to said post above theoperating lever.

In the preferable construction, the operating lever comprises ahandle-bar as shown by Lil the dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 4 and an ironsecured to the end of said handle-bar, the iron being in the form of aflat plate having an opening to receive the upper end of the post 5.

A pawl 21 is provided for each rack bar 9 and is pivotally connected tothe operating lever 19 a like distance from the post 5. The pawls 21 arearranged to engage with the teeth of the respective rack bars 9. Bypivotally connecting the pawls 21 with the operating lever 19 u onopposite sides of the post 5, oscillation of said lever in eitherdirection causes one of the pawls to, advance and the other to return tonormal position.

. It will thus be understood that while one pawl is moving forward andadvancing the rack frame, the other pawl is riding upon the teeth of theother rack bar. To prevent lateral displacement of the pawls, each isprovided at its outer end with side flanges or lips 22 which embraceopposite sides of the respective rack bars 9. The flanges or lips 22 arespaced apart a distance to prevent igheir binding against the sides ofthe rack ars.

In operation, the guide frame is fixed and when the device is used inthe open field, the lower end of the post 5 is driven into the groundand a brace or guide 23 is connected at one end to the upper end of thepost 5 and its opposite end is suitably anchored to the ground bybeingmade fast to a pin driven therein or anchored in any convenient way. Acollar 2 1 is secured to the upper end of the post and receives the endof the brace or guide 23. The wire 25 or like strand or part to bestretched is secured to the rack frame preferably by means of the clamp13 in the manner stated. U on oscillating the operating lever 19, therac frame is advanced and draws upon the wire or like part 25, therebyplacing the same under the required tension. In the event of the wirefence or like part to be stretched consisting of a fabric, a clamp ofspecial form is provided to grip the same throughout its width. Thisclamp consists of bars 26 and 27 having registering openings to receivebolts or screws by means of which the bars are drawn together after thefabric has been placed between them. The bar 26 projects beyond oppositeends of the bar 27 and a bail 28 is pivoted thereto, said bail beingadapted to be connected to the rack frame in any manner, as by havingits middle portion slipped over the threaded stud 16 or the clamp nut 17mounted thereon.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a wire stretcher, the combination of a guide frame, an anchoringpost secured to the guide frame and projecting above and below the same,a rack frame mounted upon the guide frame and comprising rack barsarranged upon opposite sides of said ost, an operating lever mountedupon the a orementioned post, and pawls pivoted to said. operating leverupon opposite sides of the post and adapted to engage the teeth of therespective rack bars.

2. In a wire stretcher, the combination of a guide frame, a post fittedthereto and projecting above and below the same, a rack frame comprisingspaced rack bars arranged upon opposite sides of the post, a cap platehaving the rack frame arranged between it and the guide frame, anoperating lever mounted upon the post and resting upon said cap plate,and pawls pivotally connected to the operating lever upon opposite sidesof said post and adapted to engage the teeth of the aforementioned rackbars.

3. In a wire stretcher, the combination of a guide frame comprising abase plate having longitudinal retaining flanges and terminal loops, apost fitted to the base plate and projecting above and below the same, arack frame comprising parallel rack bars and arranged to slide upon thebase plate between the longitudinal flanges thereof and through the saidloops, the rackbars being upon the opposite sides of the aforementionedpost, a cap plate mounted upon the post and having its edge portionsflanged to embrace opposite edges of the rack frame, an operating levermounted upon the post, and pawls pivoted to said operating lever andadapted to cooperate with the teeth of the respective rack bars.

In testimony whereof I a'lfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD B. I-IARTIN. Witnesses:

C. O. DYE, C. E. RIGGS.

